Delta SAID they would refund our money....
 

They told us no problem when we cancelled our trip to Las Vegas for a Sept. 19th weekend, and I really applauded them for being so supportive... Well last night when we saw that our credit card had not been credited like promised we called them. <BR> <BR>They said that they are sure that we were told that but corporate has made a statement that absolutley NO refunds are to be given for trips after the 18th no matter what they had promised, and anyone who issues back a refund will receive immediate discipline action!!!

I can't remember a lot of the particulars, but I do remember that there was A LOT of confusion concerning this issue that week, and the week after. I'd do a search of newspapers for articals on the subject. I know that the Atlanta Journal's travel reported did a piece in which she addressed the various airlines cancellation policies. I also remember seeing the subject mentioned in the NY Times and USA Today. If the article refutes what Delta is now saying, I'd ask to speak to a supervisor. good luck.

I would dispute the charge with your credit card company, explain to them what happened since Delta dropped the ball.

Airlines are notorious for giving out different and/or conflicting information by telephone. If this was my situation, I would call them every day asking for supervisors until I found the supervisor who will credit my card. Be calm and polite and explain what happened to you. I am confident that you will find a sympathetic ear and get your refund. But you must be persistent.

My mother had a flight on Delta to visit me in San Francisco from Tampa for September 18th. I remember saying to her (after she declined to visit), "Good thing your flight was for the 18th because that is the cut off date for a refund." Not to be the bearer of bad news but that was what I had read. Hope you get your refund.

I did ask to speak to a supervisor...she is who told me this. I know that Delta's website originally said that a refund was for flights from the 11th-18th, when we called to cancel the attendant that it had been extended and they were issuing refunds for everyone because they understood people were afraid to fly and they did not know which flights would be continuing and which would be canceled. And now they "absolutly will not be giving any refunds, under any circumstances"

It sounds like you are in a pretty tough spot. I assume you have no idea which employee promised you a refund. Aside from the good advice you've already received, I'd try one more thing. <BR> <BR>Sometimes, businesses keep a record of the names of their employees who log onto a particular reservation. If you call Delta again, ask them if they can identify the person who took your call. If you can get the name, perhaps they will own up. Even if they won't own up, you'll have an easier time in small claims court if you can provide that information. <BR> <BR>Good luck.

Go through your credit card company. I handle chargebacks for my company, and it's your best best to try to get back your money.

I don't think you have any legal standing at all. You don't even have any evidence that you were told that, and Delta's policy states refunds are for flights thru 9/18 (a good site for all refund/change fee policies is on on the "travel crisis" section of ASTA at www.astanet.com). I also don't think the airline is legally required to even do any of that (refunds thru 9/18 for no reason if the flight still went), I think legally they are only required to issue refunds based on their std policy, anything beyond that was simply policy, not required. However, it would seem if you did indeed cancel you are entitled to normal policy benefits, which would be application of that amt plus change fee to another date, I think. If you do not get that I would be upset, Delta just layed off a bunch of employees, I really don't think the energy you are devoting to this is productive or well-placed or appropriate. This was un unforeseen tragic event of massive magnitude and, as usual in the US, everybody wants somebody else to pay rather than themselves. I don't think trying to get an employee's name would make any difference, and I can't imagine spending your time trying to sue Delta in small claims court, but if that's what you want to do with your time and energy, go ahead (9/19 wasn't a weekend, either).

Although Jane makes a good point about this dispute possibly not being worth Lotus' time, I don't think she is correct on the legal rights of someone who is told they will receive a refund under the circumstances described. <BR> <BR>If Lotus called before her trip and was told she would receive a refund and relied on that promise, then Delta has to honor that promise, even if its employee wasn't technically authorized to make the promise. Delta is liable for the errors of its employees, not Lotus. <BR> <BR>Proving the promise actually happened is quite another matter, of course. But I think that if Lotus had written a prompt letter of confirmation to Delta, she would be in a very good position to require them to honor their oral agreement if she relied on it to her detriment in cancelling her trip. <BR> <BR>In my law practice, we have a saying in the office -- "Write a confirmation letter now, or write a motion later." In travel, the saying would be that if anyone makes you any kind of promise you consider important, "Write a confirmation letter now, or you will be SOL later."

Unless she taped the conversation, she has no proof that a Delta employee told her she would get a refund. I have been trying to get a refund from USAir and they won't budge from their "cut off date". My credit card company also said there are no grounds for a refund since it was a non-refundable ticket. I do understand that the airlines had to put a cut off date somewhere or everyone would be cancelling all over the place. We just have to take our loss and be happy that it is only money. Many people lost a lot more than that on Sept. 11.

Did the time of your departure flight get changed at all from the time that you booked it, or did the flight depart late? If so, you are entitled to a refund as you can now state that the flight would not have gotten you into Vegas in time for your "appointment." <BR> <BR>If an airline reschedules a flight or the flight is delayed, you are entitled to a refund... even if the ticket is non-refundable.

If a flight is delayed you are entitled to a refund? I wish that was true but I believe you are very mistaken. Most flights are delayed and nobody gets a refund that I know about. Maybe you meant something else.

I've been trying to get a refund from Midway (they have publicly stated they will refund everyone) and finally today took the advice of some people here on Fodors and called my credit card company. They told me there is a "60-day rule" for disputing charges, and since my ticket was purchased on July 12, it is too late to take that avenue now. <BR> <BR>I asked if there were any exceptions due to the recent unusual circumstances, and was told that no, it was a *federal* regulation and they were bound by it. So, assuming that this is true, make sure you keep this in mind and file your complaint with the credit card company before the 60 days is up. <BR> <BR>All I can do now is hope Midway eventually honors its promise and I someday see my $400 again.... <BR> <BR>Pamela

TO Wait A Minute: <BR> <BR>If your flight is delayed, you are entitled to a refund IF YOU CHOOSE NOT TO GET ON THE FLIGHT... even a non-refundable ticket. I think the delay needs to be more than a specified amount of time... like 15 minutes or something like that. <BR>

Whoa! I have never heard that a non-refundable ticket becomes refundable if the flight is delayed 15 minutes and you decide to go home. <BR> <BR>Can someone straighten this out?

Read this article re: Rule 240 at this website: http://www.smarterliving.com/columns...0010322.1.html <BR> <BR>From the article: #6 "In case of a force majeure event—or if you can’t find an acceptable alternative flight—your original airline is required to give you a full refund of the unused portion of your ticket, even when your ticket is “nonrefundable.” But that’s the end of the airline’s responsibility. If you opt for a refund, you must pay whatever the going fare is at the time you buy a new ticket." <BR> <BR>Each airline has their own policies regarding Rule 240, which applies when a flight is cancelled or "significantly delayed." I would imagine that each airline has their own definition of what constitutes a "signifcant delay." <BR> <BR>It's a good idea to familiarize yourself w/ Rule 240. This website has links on the right hand side which will show you each airline's version of Rule 240.

Woops! Forgot to add the site w/ the links for the individual carriers' version of Rule 240: <BR>http://extratv.warnerbros.com/dailyn...01/05_09a.html

And most importantly, no airline owes you anything if the flight is delayed unless the dealy is due to circumstances within the airline's control. That means that delays due to weather or airport traffic aren't covered.

Thanks for the info on rule 240. It was good stuff. Question: where does it say "if an airline reschedules a flight or the flight is delayed, you are entitled to a refund... even if the ticket is non-refundable". I didn't see that. <BR>